Improvement in manufacture of boot and shoe heels



B. 1?. LOOKE Manufacture of Boot and Shoe Heels. No. 217,123. Patented July 1,1879.

N, PEYERS. W]OI'OLITl'iOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN F. LOOKE, OF SOUTH WEYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN MANUFACTURE OF BOOT AND SHOE HEELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 217,123, dated July 1, 1879 application filed April 21, 1879.

ing drawings, making part of this specification, in which Figure 1. is a perspective view of a bootheel made in accordance with my invention. Fig. '2 is a plan of one of the lifts of the heel detached. Fig. 3' is a vertical section on the line as x of Fig. 2. Fig. atis a perspective view of one of the pieces of which thelifts are composed. Fig. 5 is a vertical section, enlarged, through the piece represented in Fig. 4.

My invention relates to that class of heels for boots and shoes the lifts of which are formed of small waste pieces of leather placed together, and has for its object to unite these pieces in such a manner that any blow or pressure applied to the face of the liftwill tend to close the joint or joints between the pieces of which it is formed, instead of separating them, as is the case when the edges of the pieces are merely butted tbgether or scarfjoints are employed; and my invention consists in providing the contiguous edges of two pieces which are to be united with longitudinal angular lips, beveled inward, so that one will hook over the other, a joint being thus formed which will effectually prevent any separation of the pieces, either while the nails are being driven in or afterward when the bolt or shoe is being worn.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the manner in which I have-carried it out.

In the said drawings, A represents a bootheel formed of lifts I), each of which is composed of any desired number of small waste pieces" of leather, 0, of any suitable shape. These pieces are united together by self-locking joints made in the following manner. Each of the contiguous edges of two pieces to be united is provided with an angular lip, d, extending longitudinally from one end to the other, and formed by a suitable hand-tool, or by a machine having a cutter or cutters adaptedforthepurpose. Thisprojectingangular lip d is beveled inward from the outer edge, 6, to the angle 9 of the shoulder 0, Figs. 4' and 5, the edge 6 not extending to the level of the surface of the lift, and the distance from the point 6 to the point 7 being equal to the distance of the point 8 from the point 9, so that when the lips 01 thus formed are hooked one over the other, as seen in Figs. 1 and 3, the surfaces of the two pieces thus united will be flush with each other; and it will be seen that, owing to the peculiar bevel or direction of the inclination of the surfaces 10 of the lips d, any blow or pressure upon the surface of the lift will tend to cause the two pieces to approach or hug each other closely, the tightness of the joint increasing in proportion to the pressure upon the lift or force of the blow thereon-an advantage of great importance, as it effectually prevents the separation of the pieces while the lift, or the heel composed of such lifts, is being nailed on, and also while the boot or shoe is in actual use. y

Any desired number of the lifts of a heel may be composed of pieces united by selt locking joints formed as above described, the outer or bottom lift being preferably made of a single piece, so as to present a more finished appearance; and the joints may run in any desired direction; but I prefer to arrange those of one lift so as to break joints with those'of the contiguous lifts above and below, the lifts being held together by nails or cement, as preferred.

It is evident that my invention may be applied to sole-taps, if desired.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isi A heel-lift composed of pieces 0, provided at their contiguous edges with longitudinal angular lips 01, beveled from 6 to 9, as shown, and adapted to hook one over the other in such a manner that pressure applied to the face of the lift will tend to tightly close the joint or joint or joints between the pieces sul'ist'anti'ally joints between the pieces, snlosta ntially as set as set forth.

forth. a 7 Witness my hand this 19th day of April,

2. A heel composed Wholly or partially of A. D., 1879. lifts formed of pieces 0, united by means of longitudinal angular lips d, beveled from 6 to BENJ' LOGKE' 9, and adapted to book one over the other in In presence ofsuch a manner that pressure applied to the P. E. TESOHEMAGHER,

face of the lift will tend to tightly close the W. J. CAMBRIDGE. 

